Features

Ince: Concentration Was Key

Manager Delighted With His Team's Focus In Royal Win

Paul Ince spoke of the brilliant team spirit shown after The Seasiders dealt with injuries to overcome Reading at Bloomfield Road.

Steven Davies, Isaiah Osbourne and Craig Cathcart all missed the game through injury, while Gary MacKenzie limped off midway through the second-half in the 1-0 win over Nigel Adkins' side and the Pool boss was delighted with his players' professional attitude.

"It was fantastic to be fair, we just keep defying the odds all the time," said Ince.

"I said to the players before the game that as much talent as they have got, talent is not always going to win you games. You've got to have mentality and togetherness as a team and we've got the spirit that will carry us through games and it's a fantastic result for us.

"We had Neal Bishop playing right-back, Delfouneso playing centre-midfield, a left-back playing left midfield so as far as position-wise goes we are all over the place, but if you are organised it shows what you can do."

Tom Barkhuizen was the hero for The Seasiders and his manager was pleased for the local lad who grew up supporting the Club.

"I didn't actually see the goal go in because somebody blocked my view!

"It's a great feeling and I'm pleased for Tommy because he trains hard and works hard. He's a young lad, he's got a long way to go, but he's got blistering pace and to take the goal in the manner that he did and the composure that he showed, knowing the circumstances that 1-0 was going to win the game, means he is a credit to himself."

After taking the lead Blackpool never lost focus and Ince was quick to praise the way the players saw the game out.

"They hit the bar and you think maybe it is going to be our day, but after that we weren't really tested. There were a few scrambles and we threw ourselves in front of things, made tackles at the right time and made the right decisions.

"The most important thing is that we kept our concentration as we didn't do that at Middlesbrough last week and it cost us a goal. The longer the game goes on the more you need to focus and keep your concentration to see the game out and we did that."